Only the final game of 2016 didn’t matter for the RailCats.
It was a far cry from 2015, when they were relegated to playing out the string.
But missing the playoffs for the third straight season since their 2013 American Association championship stung.
A long season includes a number of pivotal moments.
But no perspective of hindsight is required for the RailCats to especially rue last week’s three-game sweep at last-place Sioux Falls after playing themselves into the Central Division driver’s seat.
That sort of inconsistency hampered the RailCats.
They won six straight games and 10 of 11 from mid-to late August. They lost their first six games in August out of the All-Star break. They started the season 0-4 at St. Paul.
As the RailCats (52-48) closed their season with Monday’s 6-2 loss to Joplin, Greg Tagert, the league’s manager of the year, was left to contemplate the what-ifs.
“We have to take out that unpredictability,” he said. “We have to figure out how to take the next step. We do have a wonderful nucleus of players here, with a lot of upside, a lot of talent, a lot of career ahead of them.”
Indeed, the RailCats again opted to skew young, with a roster packed with rookies. They hope to develop that elusive “core group” and rekindle a championship culture.
They also had several invaluable experienced players such as starting pitchers Charle Rosario, who set franchise season records for innings and complete games, and Richard Castillo; catcher Jose Gonzalez, the league’s defensive player of the year; third baseman/designated hitter Frank Martinez; and closer Jorge De Leon, a former major leaguer. The future of each of those players was uncertain.
“We’re in a much better position than we were a year ago,” Tagert said. “Are we poised to make another run? We better be because I cannot take another year on the outside looking in. It’s going to eat at me all offseason.”
Rosario expressed disappointment after the RailCats couldn’t catch Sioux City.
“We were hoping they would lose,” he said. “We know they’re good and Texas is one of the worst teams in the league. It didn’t happen.”
The RailCats had four players sign with affiliated organizations, and dealt with a rash of injuries, both having dramatic effects.
In early July, left-hander Alex Gunn signed with the Diamondbacks and righty Christian Herstine with the Yankees. The loss of Gunn hurt the RailCats’ rotation considerably.
In late June, third baseman Jose Sermo signed with the Red Sox. Even before the season began in mid-April, righty Matt Solter landed with the Giants.
On June 2 against Kansas City, right-hander Karl Triana threw the first no-hitter in the franchise’s 15-year history. On Aug. 5 against Winnipeg, the Colombian notched a franchise-record 14 strikeouts.
But that game was Triana’s last, being shut down with an elbow injury.
Leadoff hitter Cameron Newell last played Aug. 16 because of an ankle injury.
Tony Cheky, the dynamic outfielder from Portage, played down the stretch with bone chips in his elbow. The start of his season was delayed by a knee injury before he returned to set the league record with 10 putouts in a game.
The RailCats overhauled their coaching staff in the offseason, then revamped it during the season.
Tagert has every intention of returning next season — and beyond. He addressed the team in the clubhouse after Monday’s game, understanding that the players, coaches and trainer all want to get “picked up.”
“Everybody in there except for one person wants to get signed by a major league organization — the only person who wants to be here every day, and this is the ultimate goal, is myself,” Tagert said.
“I do believe we have a great thing going, or starting. It’s tough to say ‘going’ when the record is close to .500. But we’re on the right path to start that run again.”
Twitter @MichaelOsipoff
